Do you know
John Challis? John is an 18-year-old student at
Freedom High School in Beaver County, PA. He's a faithful Catholic and a member of his school's baseball team.
Do you know
John Challis? Two weeks ago, he hit an RBI single against section opponent Aliquippa.
Do you know
John Challis? John has cancer - the kind of cancer that measures the remainder of life in
months. However, he has been bravely battling cancer for almost two years. He realizes that being around this long is an accomplishment in itself.
Do you know
John Challis? Thanks to one of my former high school teammates in baseball, I do.
I live in Louisville, KY now, but I try to browse my hometown paper's website (
The Beaver County Times) each morning. A few weeks ago, I actually read about
John's single against Aliquippa. I have to admit that I just glanced over the story and thought, "That's nice he got to do that." What I didn't know was how influencial John Challis is to everyone who knows him.
Last night, one of my
co-workers sent me a link to an
article about John on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette website. It tells his story and describes how communities and students from other schools have been touched by John's story. More importantly, the story shows John's strength and conviction to make his life really mean something.
After reading the article, I felt something inside of me leap. I was being urged to get in touch with John some way. John's coach, Steve Wetzel, happened to be a graduate of
Blackhawk High School and one of my high school and American Legion baseball teammates. I was able to track him down through some old friends back home.
Picture From Pittsburgh Post-Gazette taken by Matt Freed
The things Steve told me about John were amazing. John's story has created interest from all three major sports teams in Pittsburgh -
Steelers,
Penguins and
Pirates. Rival high schools have honored him by raising money for cancer research. Scholar-athletes from Freedom High School and opposing teams gather with John in prayer following games. Entire faith communities extend their love and prayers to John and his family.
Also, I'm not the first ex-teammate of Steve's to offer support. Guys I used to refer to by nicknames like "Bones", "
Smitty", and "
ErK" have all been in touch with him because of John. Many of Steve's (and mine as well) former teachers and coaches from Blackhawk like Bob Amalia, Jim Wilson and the legendary
Joe Hamilton, have been involved too.
John's story is so moving and emotional for so many people. For me, John's love of baseball and his deep rooted Catholic faith were the most poignant.
Ever since I was 7-years-old, baseball has been a focal point of my life. I've played or coached every year for the past 26 years. I love the game and I love the way it can shape the character of young players. Being one of Steve's players makes John a descendant of a coaching lineage that includes Coach Amalia, Coach Wilson and Coach Hamilton. Those three along with countless other Blackhawk coaches and faculty create a tree of knowledge and support from some of the greatest motivators I've had the pleasure of knowing.
I've been a Catholic my entire life, but really came into a deeper appreciation of my faith when I was in college. I currently serve as a music minister in my own
parish. Since
our church also supports its own school, I have seen first-hand the faith crises that many of the students (as well as their parents) endure especially in their teen years. To hear how John really connected with God through all of this reassures me that people his age really do seek God in their lives. He is a glorious example of the gifts of love and strength given to all of us by the Holy Spirit. I really experienced true joy when Steve spoke of the faith that John shares with everyone. It's also a credit to his parents and his faith community for being a shining example for John to follow.
I ask anyone reading this to pray for John and his family and friends. Also, I urge you -- in any way you can --
get to know John Challis.
Lord, thank you for allowing me to learn more about you through one of my own Brothers in Christ. Through Baptism and the Eucharist, we are connected on earth. I pray that we unite again in your kingdom when our time here is through.